Baby furniture



oct. 18, 1949. J. G. KRENZKE 2,485,156

BABY FURNITURE Filed sept. 5, 1947 3 sheets-sheet 1 J. G. KRENZKE BABY FURNITURE s sneek-sheet 2 :izz:

Oct. 18, 1949.

Fiied Sept. 5, 1947 AJ. G. KRENZKE BABY FURNITURE Oct. 18, 1949.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed sept. 5, -1947 Q2 ZI@ 23 Patented Oct. 18, 1949 `4BABY FURNITURE J ohn GeorgeKrenzke, La Borte, Jnd.,.assignor .to .Joseph L. Beesley, Lakai-talud.

Application September 5, 194'?, SeralfNo. y772,394

.-2 Claims.

This invention relates generally totan .article of furniture Land particularly Ato a .combination baby chair and table.

An important object of the invention .isito .provide an Varticle .of baby furniture which includes a .table .and chair combination, whereinthe chair may :be attached to the table in such a way `that the entire .structure may be folded or collapsed to vfacilitate 4storage and transportation thereof.

.Another object of the invention Vto'provide an `article .of furniture which .includes a table top having an opening therein and :achair or seat portion combined therewith; the seat portion being normally located below fthe iopening :in the table top-when in use, and having a back attached to the :seat portion receivable in said opening. The back and .seat portions are sozmounted with respect to the `vtable top thatithey maybe folded together out of the opening in the .tabletopwvhen the seat is not in use.

Still another object of the yinvention is to provide a baby chairand table-combination .wherein the table top has an opening therein to .receive the back of a collapsible chair, and a closure member is combined with the table top forlclosing the opening therein when the chair aisfoollapsed, whereby the closure member will form a'complete and smooth surface with the -rest `of the table top.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a baby chair 'and table :Icombination wherein the chair is mounted von the table and is adapted to be received in an opening inthe table top when the chair is in use. The ychair may be folded or collapsed out ofthe openingfor non-use, and a closure member-slidably'mounted on the table top may then be inserted Within the opening to lcomplete the top surface of .the table.

Still another object isto provide :afbaby chair and table combination wherein all of the Vparts are secured togetherzin'such a Waythat the'table may be opened to form either a chairfor the .baby or a complete table top, andyetthe -.entiref,-struc ture may be folded together orv collapsed tofacilitate transportation such as in a car `or 'other vehicle and forstorage purposes.

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will become apparent upon readingthefollowing description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of the .baby chair and table construction embodying fthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a. top plan view;

fllig. i4 is Va fragmentary vertical Vsectional view along alie line .f4-'Lof .Fig..3

5 is :a sectional fview :similar to .'Fig. 4, but showing the closure member in place and the chair portion collapsed;

Fig.. 1:6 isfa verticalsectional view through :the table top .along the line v'--f fof Fig. 24;

iFig. `7 :is lan enlarged fragmentary sectional viewzalong the line 7-1 of vfliig.s5;

iFig. 8 iis :an enlarged fragmentary elevational view 'of 'a detail of vthe `closure member .guide means; l

Fig. .9;is atop plan viewof the structurein-collapsed een-dition;

Fig. sl-O is :anfend elevational viewof they struct-urefshown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. :11 is a perspective viewof the vstructure embodying ,the .present invention.

:Babyfurniture ofthe generalclass herein described and .which is designed primarily to provide a.safe sea-ting arrangement for an infant, has been .in use heretofore, ybut .such structures have not always been safe and have been somewhat cumbersome to.carry,.in that they-havenot been able.tobefoldedorcollapsed vtoa relatively small size. Furthermore, earlier `constructions have not-met the'test .of ,strength and sturdiness which is .necessary .in baby or child furniture. These andmanyother.disadvantages of baby furniture encountered in the .past have been overcome by means of the present invention.

.-Briey described, the present invention involvesa collapsible table to which a .chair portion isseoured insuch .a fway as to be unfolded for use or collapsed when `not in use. The table top has .an opening therein adapted to receive the back .of the chair so that the child may be placed thereinwithoutdanger of falling out. A removable'bar is located at the front of the seat to prevent the child 'from sliding forwardly. When the 'chair is notin use, a closure member is adapted fto be moved into place to close the opening in 'th-eftableftopandthus' permit 'a complete surface areapn Ywhich lthe child `may play. Infadditiontofthesefeatures, the entire structure maylbe lfldedor collapsed `similar to a bridge table so2thatfitimay be easily stored or transportedin'anzautomobile yto the beach or camp.

Referring now vmore .particularly'to the drawingsfand especiallytosligs. 1 and 2, the tabletop isindicated-bythe numeral vI and isprovided with four sidemembersf2,.3,4and 5. vEachof the side membersfis-longitudinallygrooved along its inner side toreceive .thevedees of the top 6.

The.tabie-topis supported in a horizontal position by two pairs of legs 1 and 8. A hinge block 9 extends downwardly from the rear of the table adjacent each rear corner thereof and these hinge blocks support a pivot rod I9 on which one end of each of the legs 8 is mounted. Another pivot rod II connects the crossed legs 1 and 8 at their point of intersection so that they may 'be rotated about this latter pivot rod II when the table is collapsed.

Any suitable means may be utilized for limiting the outward movement of the legs 1 and 8 when they are moved to open or supporting position. As illustrated, there are provided two chains I2, one at each side of the table, secured at their rear ends to the pivot rod I and at their forward ends to the legs 1. Any suitable means, such as the screws I3, may be used to fasten the forward ends of the chains I2. The upper ends of the legs 1 support the table top in a horizontal position when the two legs 1 and -8 are spread apart. The upper ends of the legs 1 are recessed as at I4, 4and these recesses are adapted to receive the pivot rod I0 when the two legs 1 and 8 are folded together.

The table top 6 has a recess or opening I5 therein disposed centrally of the top and extending inwardly from the rear edge thereof. A chair consisting of a seat portion I6 and a back portion I1 is suitably mounted below the table top so that it may be opened for use as shown in Fig. 4, or collapsed when not in use as shown in Fig. 5.

The seat portion I6 is provided with two rearwardly extending supporting bars I8, which bars are secured to the under side of the seat portion I6 and extend across the pivot rod II. The bars I8 are suitably recessed between their ends to receive approximately one-half of the pivot rod II. A hinge block I9, recessed to receive the other half of the pivot rod II, is secured to the under side of each of the bars I3, thereupon pivotally clamping the seat portion I6 to the pivot rod II.

A hinge block 20 is secured to and extends upwardly from the rear end of each of the bars I8.

The back portion I1 of the chair has a bar 2| mounted on the 'rear side thereof. End screws 22 pass through the hinge block 20 and into the ends of the bar 2l to thereupon provide a pivotal mounting for the back I1 with respect to the seat I6.

When the chair is in open position, the back I1 thereof will be received within the recess or opening I in the top 6. Suitable releasable locking means may be provided to rigidly lock the chair in this open position. In the illustrated form of the invention, this locking means comprises a retaining block 23 secured to the rear side of the back I1, which block 23 is recessed at its lower edge to receive the pivot rod I0. A locking bar 24 is pivotally mounted at the rear side of the back I1 by means of a pivot pin 25 to thereby permit the locking bar 24 to be rotated. The locking bar 24 terminates at its upper end closely adjacent the under side of the pivot rod I0 when the chair is in open position, so that the back I1 of the chair can not be lifted or removed from the rod I9. Thus, a child sitting in the chair will not be able to cause the back I1 to be removed from the rod I0. When it is desired to collapse the chair it is merely necessary to rotate the locking bar 24 a sufficient distance so that the back I1 may be raised upwardly to clear the rod I0. The entire chairmay then be p ivoted about .the pivot rod II to the collapsed position illustrated in Fig. 5.

Since children have a habit of moving about considerably, it is necessary to provide some means to prevent a child from sliding forwardly out of the chair. In accordance with the collapsible feature of the invention, there is provided novel means which can be easily attached and detached from the front of the seat I6 to prevent a child from sliding forwardly out of the chair. This means includes a rod 26 which is freely suspended by means such as a chain 21 from a suitable location beneath the table top. An opening 28 adjacent the forward end of the seat I6 is adapted to receive the rod 26. The length of this rod 26 is such that it can not be removed from the opening 28 when the chair is in the position shown in Fig. 4. In order for the rod to be removed, it is necessary to release the locking means at the back of the chair and lower the front edge of the seat I6.

An important feature of the invention in addition to those described hereinabove resides in the ability to transform the chair into a complete table. This is done preferably by utilizing the piece of material which was cut out of the top 6 to form the opening I5. Such a piece of material will be of substantially the same size and shape as the opening and will therefore t snugly in place to thereby provide a complete smooth surface on the top of the table. Novel means have been devised whereby this piece of material, hereinafter referred to as the closure member, may be attached to the structure so that it may be moved out of'the way when the chair is to be used, but may be moved to a position to close the opening when the chair is not in use.

This closure member is indicated in the drawings by the numeral 29 and is preferably provided at its forward and rear ends with transverse supporting bars 30 and 3I. These bars 39 and 3I support the closure member 29 and mount the closure member for sliding movement underneath the table top. Opposing guide bars 32 and 33 are secured to the underside of the table top 6 and extend from the front to the rear thereof. Each guide bar has an elongated guiding recess 34 therein adapted to receive the ends of the supporting bars 30 and 3I. In order that the closure member may not move too freely in the guide rods 32 and 34, each end of each of the supporting bars 3D and 3I is preferably provided with a spring loaded plunger 35. Each plunger 35 is received in a suitable recess 38 in the ends of the bars 30 and 3|, each recess having therein a small coiled spring 31 normally urging the plunger 35 outwardly. The outer ends of these plungers bear against the bottom of the grooves 34 in the guide bars 32 so that only a slight amount of force is necessary to overcome the friction thus created and slide the .closure member 29 throughout the length of the guide bars 32.

The normal position of the various parts when the chair is in use is shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the closure member 29 being in its forward position so that the opening I5 is completely uncovered. When the chair is collapsed and the structure is made into a table, the closure member ,29 is moved rearwardly to a position immediately below the opening I5.

In order to provide a smooth continuity between the table top and the closure member 29, the closure member 29 must be elevated into the same plane with the top 6. Spaces 38 and 39 are provided in the upper side of each of the guide =bars 32. When the closure member 29 reaches its rearward position immediately below the opening l5, the closure member may be elevated to the same plane as the table top 6. The ends of the supporting bars 30 and 3l will thereupon move upwardly into the spaces 3-8 and 39 and the rear edge of the closure member 2S will be received within the groove on the side member 5 of the top. The groove which receives the rear edge of the closure member 29 will retain the rear edge of the closure in an upward position. Any suitable means may be provided for retaining the forward end of the closure member in its upper position. One means of accomplishing this result is to provide a block 40 on the under side of the closure member 29 which has a hump 4l or Yother suitable form of detent on its bottom. When the closure member 29 is in its closed position as shown in Fig. 5 and the chair has been collapsed, the forward or upper edge of the seat portion I6 may come against the hump 4| and thereby lock the closure member in place.

If desired, instead of utilizing the block 40, the guide bars may be provided with recesses adapted to receive the ends of the plungers 35, as illustrated in Fig. 7. Such a construction will also serve to maintain the closure member in place.

When the structure is set up for use as a chair, the various parts thereof will be as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, with the closure member 29 in its forward position below the table top, and with the chair in position for use, wherein the back I'I of the chair is received in the opening I5. The back ll will be locked in position and thus prevent both the chair and the table from being folded or collapsed. Furthermore, the rod 26 which is used to keep the child from sliding forwardly out of the chair can not be removed until the seat |76 is pivoted downwardly, so that all of the parts are securely locked in position against movement.

If it is then desired to utilize the structure as a table, this can be accomplished quickly and easily by releasing the lock on the chair and folding the back l1 toward the seat I6, so that the seat and back will assume the position shown in Fig. 5. After this has been done, the closure member 29 may be moved rearwardly and then upwardly and locked in position with the table top 6 so that a smooth surface of the table top will result.

The bar 26 is preferably suspended from one of the supporting cross bars 30 secured to the closure member 29 so that when the table is to be folded, the rod 26 will be at one end of the table and out of the way when the legs are folded and the table top dropped downwardly to the collapsed position shown in Fig. 9. This collapsed position may have the closure member in place or may have this member located forwardly of the opening as shown in Fig. 9.

The folding or collapsing of the table will reduce the entire structure substantially to the ordinary size of a bridge table so that it may be easily the attendant advantages thereof, provided, how- 5 Number ever, that such changes fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. An article of baby furniture comprising a table top, foldable legs connected tosaid table top adapted to be unfolded to support said table top and to be folded to collapse said table top, a pivot rod connecting said legs together, collapsible seating means pivotally mounted on said pivot rod and adapted to be moved to open and closed positions, an opening in said table top above said seating means, whereby a child may be placed within said opening and occupy said seating means, locking means for locking said seating means in open position, and removable stop means in said seating means to prevent a child thereon from sliding forwardly out of the seat said stop means being removable only when said locking means is unlocked.

2. An article of baby furniture comprising a table top, foldable legs connected to said table top adapted to be unfolded to support said table top and to be folded to collapse said table top, a pivot rod connecting said legs together, collapsible seating means pivotally mounted on said pivot rod and adapted to be moved to open and closed positions, an opening in said table top above said seating means, a pair of opposed grooved members mounted on the under side of said table top, a closure member for said opening mounted for slidable movement in said grooved members to a position away from said opening and to a position Within said opening, means to retain said closure member in said opening, said seating means movable to a position for occupancy within said opening when said closure member has been moved away from said opening, and removable stop means in said seating means and suspended from said closure member to prevent a child thereon from sliding forwardly out of said seating means. J OI-IN GEORGE KRENZKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hall Dec. 5, 1893 Meldahl July 5, 1932 Brandwen Apr. 2, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain July 10, 1939 Great Britain Aug. 5, 1940 Number 

